The Edmonton Elks concluded their pre-season schedule with a unique twist, holding their finale at Clarke Stadium instead of their usual home at Commonwealth Stadium, which is undergoing a turf overhaul. The game against the Calgary Stampeders on Friday drew a crowd of over 10,000, with the venue expanded from its usual 5,100 seats to accommodate the turnout. Despite wet weather and an hour-long delay, fans brought big-game energy to the historic venue.
Game Highlights
Quarterback Cody Fajardo showed improvement in his second pre-season outing, completing 9 of 11 passes for 96 yards. While he didn't throw a touchdown, he led the team on four series. T.J. Luther was a key target, catching all four passes from Fajardo for 48 yards, including 20 yards after the catch. Short-yardage quarterback Cole Snyder scored a one-yard touchdown run to give the Elks a 7-0 lead late in the first quarter.
Edmonton's first-string defence held strong for the opening quarter, but allowed a 42-yard touchdown pass from Calgary's Josh Love to Dante Wright, tying the game 7-7. Love finished 7 of 8 for 80 yards and a touchdown. Stampeders starting quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. did not play.
Looking Ahead
The Elks now turn their focus to the regular season, which begins Saturday, June 6, with a road game against the Ottawa Redblacks. Edmonton has struggled with slow starts in recent years, including a 1-4 start in 2022, 0-9 in 2023, 0-7 in 2024, and 1-6 in 2025. The team aims to break that trend and prove they are no longer a downtrodden franchise.
The pre-season finale served as a final evaluation period before roster cuts to the 45-man active roster. Head coach and management will use the performance data to finalize the lineup for the regular season opener.
